'That was Link' in Zelda Wii U trailer and rumours it was a girl 'kind of grew' - Aonuma

That was Link you saw in Nintendo's tease of the Wii U Zelda during the E3 Digital Event, and it wasn't a female version, despite online speculation.

Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma told MMGN the comment leading to rumours the character we saw might not be Link was taken out of context, and was intended as a joke.

"It's a rumour," Aonuma said with a chuckle when I asked him about the speculation buzzing around online.

"Actually that comment I made jokingly," he said. "It's not that I said that it wasn't Link. It's that I never said that it was Link. It's not really the same thing, but I can understand how it could be taken that way.

"It seems like it has kind of taken off where people are saying 'oh it's a female character' and it just kind of grew. But my intent in saying that [was humour]. You know, you have to show Link when you create a trailer for a Zelda announcement."

However, he doesn't want players to focus too much on Link's appearance in the trailer.

"I don't want people to get hung up on the way Link looks because ultimately Link represents the player in the game," he said.

"I don't want to define him so much that it becomes limiting to the players. I want players to focus on other parts of the trailer and not specifically on the character because the character Link represents, again, the player."

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'That was Link' in Zelda Wii U trailer and rumours it was a girl 'kind of grew' - Aonuma Comments

I think Nintendo seriously missed an opportunity to give Zelda the role of Hero in this latest game. I mean... in the trailer link is using a bow (right handed? Link is left handed. we all know this) ...with what looks l like light arrows which has always been Zelda's weapon of choice. It is absolutely possible that at some point of the hero's reincarnation that MAYBE he is girl? Maybe roles are reversed? I like the concept revealed so far for this game. It looks amazing, and I'm sure I'll love it to pieces just like all the other loz games I've played. I kinda feel like Nintendo took a step forward....but with the wrong foot.

@Ondine said: I think Nintendo seriously missed an opportunity to give Zelda the role of Hero in this latest game. I mean... in the trailer link is using a bow (right handed? Link is left handed. we all know this) ...with what looks l like light arrows which has always been Zelda's weapon of choice. It is absolutely possible that at some point of the hero's reincarnation that MAYBE he is girl? Maybe roles are reversed? I like the concept revealed so far for this game. It looks amazing, and I'm sure I'll love it to pieces just like all the other loz games I've played. I kinda feel like Nintendo took a step forward....but with the wrong foot.

Uhh, no thanks. You bring up him being left handed? He's right handed in multiple games now (Which I was quite mad about when it was first shown.) since with the Wii-mote, it was easier for people to use their right hand. And no, no one wants to see any genderswapping, this isn't tumblr, it's a video game franchise.

And no, no one wants to see any genderswapping, this isn't tumblr, it's a video game franchise.

This might come as a shock.... But girls play video game franchises. Like, a LOT of girls. I'd wager that most Zelda fans today are girls, since Nintendo gets such a bad rep for being "immature" from a lot of dudebros. Asking for a female-led game in the franchise - or even the ability to choose between male and female, which female gamers would be more than content with - is really not a big deal, dude, and it's certainly not a hallmark of HERP DERP TYPICAL TUMBLR FEMINIST OPPRESSION OF MALES. The Zelda universe demands certain things of the hero named Link - namely, courage. Not even necessarily being named Link. And having balls doesn't have to be one of the demands, either. :)

This might come as a shock.... But girls play video game franchises. Like, a LOT of girls. I'd wager that most Zelda fans today are girls, since Nintendo gets such a bad rep for being "immature" from a lot of dudebros. Asking for a female-led game in the franchise - or even the ability to choose between male and female, which female gamers would be more than content with - is really not a big deal, dude, and it's certainly not a hallmark of HERP DERP TYPICAL TUMBLR FEMINIST OPPRESSION OF MALES. The Zelda universe demands certain things of the hero named Link - namely, courage. Not even necessarily being named Link. And having balls doesn't have to be one of the demands, either.

Hey, just because a large population of girls play video games doesn't means that they should make a female (main) protagonist or switch a recurring game feature. I'm a girl myself and honestly don't care about having female/male roles. I'm just glad that there's a new up and coming Zelda game. I've also always seen Zelda as a heroine in the series, so I'm not sure why everyone is complaining that there's no heroic female. Just because she isn't playable doesn't mean there aren't enjoyable female protagonists. (And who knows, she could still be playable.) :O

Oh and, "having balls" is completely misinterpreting how the developer wanted Link's role to be taken. It even says how feels about his gender in the article.
"I don't want to define him so much that it becomes limiting to the players. I want players to focus on other parts of the trailer and not specifically on the character because the character Link represents, again, the player."

And no, no one wants to see any genderswapping, this isn't tumblr, it's a video game franchise.

This might come as a shock.... But girls play video game franchises. Like, a LOT of girls. I'd wager that most Zelda fans today are girls, since Nintendo gets such a bad rep for being "immature" from a lot of dudebros. Asking for a female-led game in the franchise - or even the ability to choose between male and female, which female gamers would be more than content with - is really not a big deal, dude, and it's certainly not a hallmark of HERP DERP TYPICAL TUMBLR FEMINIST OPPRESSION OF MALES. The Zelda universe demands certain things of the hero named Link - namely, courage. Not even necessarily being named Link. And having balls doesn't have to be one of the demands, either.

Look at the curse in Skyward Sword from Demise. They're cursed to REPRISE their ROLES. They're not cursed to reincarnate. They are to play out the same scenario through the ages: the Goddess Hylia (Zelda) and the Hero (Link) against the Demon King (Demise/Ganon/Ganondorf).

The story limits itself.. it is simply not canon to EVER gender swap the characters. Full stop.

What a terrible misunderstanding.
Link can't be female! Link is always going to do a great adventure to beat an evil thing who is going to destroy the world. It must have more stamina and powerful strengthes.
And, about his design, i don't see it is a girl.
Check these out.
Yugioh Zexal Three
Yugioh Zexal Five
Naruto Haku
Inazuma Eleven Kirino
Ask google with these names.
And learn what japanese style is.
They aren't female. They are exact men.
These characters are also famous chracters in each anime.

@GB5000 said: What a terrible misunderstanding.
Link can't be female! Link is always going to do a great adventure to beat an evil thing who is going to destroy the world. It must have more stamina and powerful strengthes.
And, about his design, i don't see it is a girl.
Check these out.
Yugioh Zexal Three
Yugioh Zexal Five
Naruto Haku
Inazuma Eleven Kirino
Ask google with these names.
And learn what japanese style is.
They aren't female. They are exact men.
These characters are also famous chracters in each anime.

Woah buddy. Are you sure you're in 2014? Women are plenty strong enough to save the world.

The curse in Skyward Sword is not enough. Curses are broken all the time in Zelda games. If Nintendo did make this Link female, I'm proud of how they did, making her not super busty and having just as much clothing on her body, strength, and ability as male Link.

I've been a Los fan for along time. Started with link to the past. Played the originals and enjoyed everyone since then. I love this franchise. I mean deep soul love. I just want the bosses to look mature and scary looking. They're monsters after all. Zelda and link switching roles really doesn't bother me all that much. Or since they don't really have voices( except grunts and yells) what if you could choose which to play swapping roles in your decision. That actually seems like a cool idea.

@Odhinnson said:
Look at the curse in Skyward Sword from Demise. They're cursed to REPRISE their ROLES. They're not cursed to reincarnate. They are to play out the same scenario through the ages: the Goddess Hylia (Zelda) and the Hero (Link) against the Demon King (Demise/Ganon/Ganondorf).
The story limits itself.. it is simply not canon to EVER gender swap the characters. Full stop.

Ehm?...Seriously dude. You said it yourself. They are cursed to reprise their roles, but nobody ever talked about their gender.
Link Aka. The Hero (of Time/of Light/of Whatever) has a bunch of reincarnations
Zelda Aka, The Lead (of tHylia/of Wisdom/ of Whatever) has also a bunch of reincarnations.
Ganondorf Aka. The Evil (King of Demons "Demise"/King of the Desert/King of ****off) was reincarnated and reborn multiple times
BUT the only ones who are bond to a gender are Zelda and Ganondorf as they represent the ROLES of the Goddess and the Demon King. Link represents the Player. ~Full stop~ :P